(EMPORIA, Kan.) – The 21^st-ranked Mules got big nights from Kyle Wolf and D’Marnier Cunningham to hold off Emporia State 73-72 at White Auditoriumon Saturday night.

Wolf finished with a game-high 24 points and Cunningham had 23.

The Hornets (4-3, 2-0 MIAA) jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but the Mules (7-1, 1-1 MIAA) regained the lead 6-5 on back-to-back layups from D’Marnier Cunningham. UCM pushed the lead to five at 16-11 thanks in part to a long  three-pointer from Tony Cochran.

The UCM lead grew to as many as seven at 20-13 with 11:07 to play in the half on a Cunningham layup. The Hornets answered with five straight points to pull back within two points at 20-18.

The Mules were able to push the lead back to five at 25-20, but a 7-2 spurt by the Hornets tied the game at 27-all with 5:00 to play in the half. UCM scored six of the final nine points of the half and led 33-30 at halftime.

The Mules led 39-38 early in the second half when Kyle Wolf drained back-to-back threes to push the lead to 45-38. It ignited a 15-4 run that ended with another Wolf three and UCM led 54-42 with 10:56 to play.

The Hornets again answered with a 17-5 run of their own that made it a one-point game, 60-59, with 4:11 to play.

Wolf drained his fifth three of the game to push the UCM lead to four at 63-59.  After a pair of Terrence Moore free throws cut the lead to two, Cunningham drove to the bucket for two and Wolf buried another triple to give the Mules a 68-61 lead with 2:33 on the clock.

A 7-1 spurt by the Hornets made it just a two point game, 69-67, with 1:03 to play. ESU had a chance to take the lead on a three with :23 to play, but Wolf got the rebound and promptly sank two free throws to give the Mules a four-point advantage.

Following a Moore layup, Cunningham sank two free throws to push the lead back to four at 73-69 with :07 left.  Jay Temaat hit a three with 1.2 to play to make it a one point game, but following a timeout the Mules threw a long inbounds pass and were able to run out the final second for the win.

Wolf finished the game 7-for-9 from the field and 6-of-8 from three-point range while Cunningham was 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-8 at the foul line. The Mules were 26-of-51 for the game, shooting 51 percent. They made 7-of-12 three-pointers for 58 percent and 14-of-19 at the free throw line for 73 percent.

Spencer Reaves also finished in double figures for UCM with 11 points.

Emporia State was led by Moore’s 14 points. Joshua Oswald and Charles McKinney each finished with 11. The Hornets were 30-of-66 from the floor for 45 percent, but just 6-of-22 from three-point range for 27 percent. ESU made 6-of-12 at the charity stripe.

The Mules are back in action Thursday night, hosting Fort Hays State at the Multi for a 7:30 p.m. tip. It is Toys for Tots night with any fans who brings a new, unwrapped toy or donates at least $10 getting free admission to the game and a coupon for a free box of popcorn. Santa will also be on hand to meet with kids.